Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday that he would extend an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, after indicating Wednesday that he was considering the move.
“I would love to have him come and address a joint session of Congress. We’ll certainly extend that invitation,” Johnson said in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
The interview comes after Netanyahu virtually addressed Senate Republicans on Wednesday, but was reportedly denied when he requested the same opportunity to address Senate Democrats. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cited concerns about making Israel a partisan issue.
“Sen. Schumer made it clear that he does not think these discussions should happen in a partisan manner. That’s not helpful to Israel,” Schumer’s spokesperson said.
For a joint session, Schumer would need to consent to Johnson’s extending of the invitation. Johnson said he did not know whether Schumer would agree to a joint session, but, if he didn’t, the Speaker said he would invite Netanyahu to address the House.
“Well, I guess we’ll find out,” Johnson said on whether Schumer would agree to a joint session. “I mean, look, I’m the one that extends the invitations to speak in the House. And if we just have the House, that’s fine, too, but I think a big majority of that Senate would want to come and stand in support of Netanyahu and Israel.
“I think it’s a really, really critical time for that nation. They’re fighting for their very existence. We need to stand strong with them,” he added.
Schumer said in a statement on Thursday that Israel “has no stronger ally than the United States and our relationship transcends any one president or any one Prime Minister.”
“I will always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way,” Schumer added.
The developments come after Schumer issued a scathing rebuke of Netanyahu’s leadership in a nearly 45-minute speech on Israel last week. The longtime supporter of Israel said Netanyahu had “lost his way” as he called for new elections.
Schumer faced fierce backlash from conservatives and from Netanyahu, who called his remarks “totally inappropriate.”
–Updated at 11:54 a.m.